Are you in the market for a new television set? Are you considering a plasma, LCD or flat-screen model? Have you considered it’s energy efficiency? While most people shop for televisions with specific features already in mind, they rarely consider energy efficiency. Why is energy efficiency important in televisions? According to Energy Star, “today’s TVs, when combined with related products like DVD players and set-top boxes, make up about 10% of a household’s annual electricity bill.”

Powering Your TV and it’s Effect on the Environment

Watching television may seem harmless enough, but it’s important to realize the environmental impact of the electricity you use. Generating electricity is a dirty business – especially in the United States. In 2006, nearly half (49%) of the country’s 4.1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity generated used coal as its source of energy. Why do we still rely so heavily on coal in today’s more environmentally conscious world? You can find the answer in a recent MIT report titled The Future of Coal where they state, “Coal is a low-cost, per BTU, mainstay of both the developed and developing world,” they continue with the following frightening statement, “its use is projected to increase.”

Growing Power Needs

If 10% of your household’s annual electricity bill doesn’t seem outrageous to you then consider the following, according to Keith Jones of Digital CEnergy Australia, “by 2012, it will be safe to say that televisions will use more power than the average refrigerator in an average household.”

Energy Efficiency – A Simple Solution

Thankfully, there is a simple solution – energy efficiency. The more energy efficient your new television is, the less electricity you use and the less pollution you contribute. With the help of Energy Star, finding an energy efficiency television has never been easier. Energy Star rated televisions use about 30% less energy in comparison to standard units. Energy Star also provides ratings on almost every type of television on the market – from standard TVs, to HD-ready TVs, to the largest flat-screen plasma TVs.

To maximize the energy efficiency of your new television, if possible, I recommend holding your purchase until after November 2008. According to Energy Star, “in November 2008, a new, much more stringent ENERGY STAR specification for TVs will be effective.” This new standard will include efficiency improvements for both standby and active modes.

Finding Energy Star Rated Televisions

If you are ready to shop today then you can find Energy Star rated televisions using their free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TV#FAPSearch

The following stores also carry Energy Star rated “Home Electronics” so you should be able to compare Energy Star models personally.

• Best Buy
• Costco
• Sam’s Club
• Sears
• Wal-Mart

To find the closest store near you, Energy Star provides the following free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.store_locator

It’s important to always remember using energy efficient devices is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only does energy efficiency help save the environment for future generations, it also saves you money each money by lowering your monthly electricity bill. When you purchase your next television, make the environmentally smart choice and purchase one rated by Energy Star.

With increasing energy costs plaguing the nation and global warming on thoughts of millions across the world, adding residential solar panels to your home would be a wise thing to do. With the low investment to install these solar cells you will benefit greatly from the amount of money you will save in energy costs in the long run. The residential solar cells of today are much better looking and more appeasing to the eye than solar panels of the past.

Solar panels don’t have to be used to heat and power your entire home although it is certainly possible. You can save money and use solar cells in other smaller uses for your household. Use them for smaller rooms only or for your outdoor gardens or greenhouses. Apply them to heat your pool in the winter months or to light up your sidewalk or driveway at night.

Buying new residential solar panels can cost thousands of dollars which may cut deep into the pockets of most low and middle income households. There is a way around this, a small solution per say. One way to do this would be to buy used residential solar panels. Used solar panels only lose about 10% of their efficiency even after 20 years.

You can try to contact large industrial locations or businesses to inquire about using their old solar panels. Large industrial corporations invest in new solar cells often so as not to lose any production from old solar panels. Much of the time these solar panels are hardly used at all and they may still give them to you for free or at least a very low discounted price.

If you choose to buy used solar panels, there are a couple of things to look out for. First of all you need to examine each panel very carefully. Check each one for any cracks or breaks. It’s also important to look for any condensation inside of the panels along with the cracks which are all signs that the solar cells most likely will not work so well. Any repairs you have to make to the panels will be costly and not worth the investment of buying the residential solar panels used.

Besides saving money from energy costs around the house, the government also provides large tax discounts and benefits to those installing residential solar cells. Check into this carefully before you buy used panels because the tax breaks may only be for those who purchase new ones. With this in mind, it only makes sense to do the math and see which type of investment would be the smartest and most efficient way to go. Also keep in mind that buying new residential solar panels will probably come with warranty’s which will cover any breaks along with the tax breaks.

Whichever route you choose residential solar panels new or used will save you money in energy costs and will help save the environment.

There are many affordable ways to stay cool during the hot summer months without running your air conditioner 24 hours a day. Keep reading for 7 alternative tips that are sure to save you money this summer.

1. Get shaded.

Installing sun-blocking blinds and shades will keep your rooms from heating up in the hot afternoon sun. An opaque roller shade will keep out about 80 percent of the heat gain, while standard Venetian blinds can block about 45-50 percent.

2. Use a ceiling fan.

A ceiling fan set to turn counterclockwise will help cool air rise, pushing it up off the floor. Using a fan instead of an air conditioner can save a lot of money. If it’s too hot during the day, try relying just on a fan at night.

3. Don’t cool the house when you’re not at home.

If you’re going to be away from your home for more than a few hours, turn your thermostat back up and close the blinds. You’ll save more energy turning your air conditioner off than the amount it will take to cool the house back down when you get home.

4. Isolate your thermostat from heat sources.

True story – my air conditioner ran constantly and my house was freezing. I couldn’t get it to read the right temperature until I realized the thermostat was on the other side of the wall from my refrigerator. The heat being thrown off by this giant appliance was totally skewing my thermostat readings. Keep heat-releasing devices away from your thermostat.

5. Clean your air conditioner’s condenser.

The condenser unit in your air conditioner is the part that sits outside your house. It needs to be clean to work efficiently. Before you start cleaning, shut off the electricity at the unit’s disconnect switch and on your main switch panel (and inform other home members not to touch it until you turn it back on!). Once the power is off, remove the access panel. With heavy gloves on, clear out any loose debris inside the unit. Finally, use a hose and soft brush to wash the outer fins and coils. Turn the fan with your hand and make sure it rotates smoothly.

6. Close the registers in your basement.

Most basements are naturally cool, being insulated by soil, and often dark and shaded. Closing the registers in your basement vents will make more cool air available to the rest of the house and save you money.

7. Recycle your air conditioner refrigerant.

Having the refrigerant in your air conditioner recharged and recycled at least once every two years can dramatically increase the efficiency of your unit. Always consult an HVAC professional when attempting to do this.